Spray head for valves



Aug. 7, 1956 L. B. DRELL 2,757,963

SPRAY HEAD FOR VALVES Filed Feb. 3, 1953 nited States Patent O SPRAY IIEAD FOR VALVES Leonard B. Drell, Glencoe, Ill. Application February 3, 1953, Serial No. 334,872

Claims. (Cl. 299-95) This invention relates to a removable spray head for valves of aerosol bombs.

The novel spray head of the present invention is adapted to be used inv cooperation with a valve of the type described in my copending application, Serial No. 327,271, tiled December 22, 1952 and now abandoned, which valve contains a resilient sealing gasket with a vertical bore therethrough.` The spray head has a downwardly extending dispensing tube which lits in the Vertical bore and is snugly held in sealing relationship by the gasket. The valve is operated when the spray head and dispensing tube are moved downwardly.

The spray head of the present invention has a linger extending rearwardly from its top. When the Valve is not being operated, the spray head may be removed from its valve-operating position and aiiixed with the rearwardly extending iinger in the vertical bore of the gasket. In this position, the dispensing tube is inclined downwardly so that any material which has remained in the spray head after spraying may drain therefrom. When it is desired to again operate the valve, the spray head is cleanvand may be readily inserted in the valve for eicient operation.

The spray head of my invention is provided with a removable plug insert having a spray orilice therethrough. Spray orifices of various sizes and shapes may be inserted into the spray head with ease and aerosol bombs embodying my invention may be used to disperse a variety of products by the simple expedient of inserting the desired removable plug. It is manifest that a manufacturer need not make a variety of diiferent valves and spray heads to accommodate diiierent products.

The spray head of this invention and the cooperating valve may be manufactured at a very low cost and costs are further reduced because but a single type spray head and valve is used with any product that may be sprayed from the bomb.

Aerosol bombs employing the spray head of my invention may be shipped without the spray head attached to avoid accidental discharge of the contents. It is also impossible to discharge the bomb if the spray head is aixed to the bomb with the rearwardly extending linger positioned in the bore of the gasket; the bomb and spray head can thus be shipped as a single package without the possibility of accidental discharge.

The structure by which the above and other advantages of the invention are obtained will be described in the following specilication, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustratingv preferred structural embodiments of the invention in which:

Figure l is a sectional view of the spray head of the present invention in valve-operating position and showing a fragmentary portion of the container;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, showing the spray head mounted in the valve in its nonoperating or draining position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the spray head;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the spray head;

Vice

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one form of plug insert having a fan shaped orifice; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another type of plug insert having a funnel shaped orifice.

Referring to the drawings, the aerosol bomb comprises a container, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The container has a top portion 11 having downwardly depending side Walls 12 and a neck portion 13. Frictionally mounted in the neck portion is a valve housing 14 having a bottom 16, side walls 17 and a top wall 18. Top wall 18 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 19.

The valve structure, which is more fully described in my copending application Serial No. 327,271, comprises a resilient gasket 20, fashioned from rubber or other suitable material, which is frictionally held between side walls 17. A bore 21 passes vertically through gasket 20, in alignment with aperture 19.

The Valve is a self-sealing valve. Positioned below the gasket is a cupped disk 22 which is normally held against the underside of the gasket by gas pressure and suitable resilienty means, preferably a coiled tension spring 23. A dispensing tube 26 depends downwardly from spray head 24, passes through aperture 19 and bore 21, and contacts cupped disk 22. Finger pressure on the spray head causes the Idispensing tube to force the cupped disk downwardly out of sealing engagement with gasket 20.

The liquid to be dispensed is in container 10 and a suitable gas, such as a chlorinated uorinated methane sold under the trade-mark Freon, is dissolved in the liquid under pressure. After the cupped disk has been moved downwardly out of sealing `engagenient with gasket 2l), the vapor pressure of the dissolved gas will force the liquid to be dispensed upwardly through tube 27 (which extends downwardly closely adjacent the bottom of container 1lias shown in my co-pending application), around the cupped disk and into liquid passageway 2S in the dispensing tube, and thence outwardly through passageway 29 in plug insert 31.

The spray head 24 of the present invention may be made of any suitable material although I prefer to use a plastic such as polyethylene which is attractive, inexpensive and easy to fabricate. A bore 32 is drilled in the spray head to accommodate a removable plug insert 31. The plug insert is preferably made of metal, such as steel or a suitable alloy, which may be drilled or otherwise fabricated with a desired orice. The plug insert is frictionally held in bore 32 and may be inserted and removed with ease.

Plug insert 31, as illustrated in Fig. l, is provided with a restricted orifice 33 adjacent face 34. Orifice 33 communicates with passageway 29. A restricted orifice such as orifice 33 is employed when the bomb is packaged with a product which is to be sprayed in a ne fog or mist, for example, an insecticide or a deodorant. It is preferred to make passageway 29 suiiiciently large that it may be easily cleaned with a pin, toothpick or any handy object.

When it is desired to package the bomb with a product that is not sprayed as a fog or a mist, plug insert 31 may be replaced by a plug insert having a different size and/ or shape orifice. Plug insert 36 (Fig. 5) is illustrative of a plug which would be suitable for spraying protective and decorative coatings such as paints, enamels or lacquers. Plug 36 has a fan shaped oriiice 37 through which the protective coating is sprayed in a wide covering spray. A restricted orifice of the type shown in plug 31 has been used for spraying protective and decorative coatings, not because such restricted orifices are more eflicient, but rather because valve and spray head constructions known to the art limited manufacturers to the use of these restricted orifices. The present invention provides the proper type of orifice when the need arises.

Fig. 6 illustrates still another type of plug insert 38 having a funnel shaped extension 39 particularly adapted for the spraying of foam type products, for example, shaving cream, shampoo and detergents of various types.

When the spray head 24 is not being used to operate the valve, it may be connected tothe aerosol bomb as shown in Fig. 2. In this position, the spray head cannot be used to discharge the valve and any liquid remaining in the spr-ay head after spraying will. drain from the spray head so that the spray head will then be clean for subsequent operation.

The spray head has a top portion and a finger 41 extending rearwardly from the top portion. The spray head may also have a web or rib 42 depending downwardly and rearwardly from the top. By virtue of the selfsealing valve construction which has a vertically bored gasket, it is possible to afiix the spray head in its nonoperating or draining position by inserting the rearwardly extending finger in the vertical bore.

Finger 41 is made of suicient thickness .that it may be securely held in vertical bore 21. Finger 41 is not long enough to engage cupped disk 22 and the valve cannot be discharged when the spray head is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Web 42 cooperates with finger 41 to aid in holding the spray head in its non-operating position. When the spray head is in this position, bottom edge 43 of web 42 frictionally engages container side wall 12 to securely hold the spray head. In the non-operating or draining position of the spray head, dispensing tube 26 is inclined downwardly and any liquid contained in passageways 28 and 29 will drain from the spray head.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be destricted to the exact construction described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An aerosol bomb comprising a container, the top of said container having side walls and a neck portion, a selfsealing valve in said neck portion, a resilient gasket in said valve having a vertical bore therethrough, and a removable spray head for operating said valve, said spray head comprising a top portion, a dispensing tube extending downwardly from said top portion, said dispensing tube being frictionally held in said vertical bore when said spray head is in valve-operating position, a finger depending rearwardly from said top portion, said finger being of sufiicient thickness to be frictionally held in said vertical bore to position said spray head in a non-operating position, and a web extending downwardly and rearwardly from said top portion, the bottom edge of said web frictionally engaging said container side walls when said finger is positioned in said vertical bore to securely hold said spray head in said non-operating position with said dispensing tube in a position of drainage.

2. An 'aerosol bomb comprising a container, a self-sealing valve in said container, a resilient gasket in said valve having a vertical bore therethrough, and a removable spray head for operating said valve, said spray head comprising a top portion, a dispensing tube extending downwardly from said top portion, said dispensing tube being frictionally 'held in said vertical bore when said spray head is in valve-operating position and being of sufficient length to operate said valve, and a finger depending rearwardly from said top portion, said finger being of sufiicient thickness to be frictionally held in said vertical bore to position said spray head in a non-operating position, said finger being of lesser length than said dispensing tube to preclude operation of said valve when said ringer is positioned in said vertical bore.

3. In an aerosol bomb having a top por-tion with depending side walls and a neck portion which houses a selfsealing valve, said valve containing a resilient gasket having a vertical bore therethrough, a spray head, said spray head comprising a top portion, a dispersing tube extending downwardly from said top portion and frictionally held in said vertical bore when said spray head is in valveoperating position, a linger depending rearwardly from said top portion and a web depending downwardly and rearwardly from said top portion, said finger being of suficient thickness to be frictionally engaged in said vertical bore .to position said spray head in a non-operating position, the bottom edge of said web frictionally engaging said depending side walls when said finger is positioned in said vertical bore to securely hold said spray head in said non-operating position.

4. In an aerosol bomb having a self-sealing valve which contains a resilient gasket having a vertical bore therethrough, a spray head, said spray head comprising a top portion, a dispensing tube extending downwardly from said top portion and frictionally held in said vertical bore when said spray head is in valve-operating position and being of sufiicient length to operate said valve, and a finger depending rearwardly from said top portion, said finger being of sufiicient thickness to be frictiona'lly engaged in said vertical bore to position said spray head in a nonoperating position, said finger being of lesser length than said dispensing tube to preclude operation of said valve when said finger is positioned in said vertical bore.

5. A removable spray head for aerosol bombs comprising a top portion, a dispensing tube extending downwardly from said top portion and having a liquid passageway therethrough, a finger extending rearwardly from said top portion, said finger being adapted to be placed in a valve of an aerosol bomb when said dispensing tube is not positioned to operate said valve, a web depending downwardly and rearwardly from said top portion, said web cooperating with said finger to secure said spray head to said aerosol bomb when said finger is positioned in said valve, and a removable plug, said removable plug having an orifice therethrough, said orifice communicating with said liquid passageway in said dispensing tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,165,825 Von Bultzingslowen July l1, 1939 2,506,449 Greenwood May 2, 1950 2,550,840 Martin May l, 1951 2,621,973 Lodes Dec. 16, 1952 2,631,814 Abplanalp Mar. 17, 1953 2,638,613 Gunther May 19, 1953 

